Cleaning apparatus

ABSTRACT

An improved cleaning mechanism for removing contaminants from generally non-porous surfaces. A sponge-like member surrounds a hollow perforated core. Sprayers, internal to the core, spray liquids under pressure to aid in removing contaminants from the sponge-like member. A pinch roll squeezes the sponge-like member against the core at a position where an internal baffle strip contacts the core. This seals the squeezed sponge-like member at the core preventing liquids and contaminants from passing the seal barrier formed.

United States Patent [15] 3,656,200 Riley, Jr. [451 Apr. 18, 1972 [54]CLEANING APPARATUS 2,731,916 1/1956 Koch l5/256.52 [72] Inventor:Bernard J. Riley, Jr., Ontario, N.Y. 15/ [73] Assignee: Xerox Corp.,Rochester, N.Y.

. Primary Examiner-Leon G. Machlin [22] 1969 Attorney-James J. Ralabate,David C. Petre and Barry Jay [21] Appl. No.: 876,930 Kesselman 52 us. or..1s/97, 15/256.52, 134/6 [57] ABSTRACT [5 llt. An improved cleaningmechanism for removing contaminants Fleld of Search 015/105 3, 4, 256.5,l from generally non porous surfaces A spongeJikc member 15056-52 102;8/70, 637; 134/1 6? surrounds a hollow perforated core. Sprayers,internal to the 1316- 12; 355/15; 317/262 core, spray liquids underpressure to aid in removing contami- 95/1 204/299 g nants from thesponge-like member. A pinch roll squeezes the 2 sponge-like memberagainst the core at a position where an in- 56 R f Cted ternal bafflestrip contacts the core. This seals the squeezed 1 e erences Isponge-like member at the core preventing liquids and con- UNITED STATESPATENTS taminants from passing the seal barrier formed.

3,196,474 7/1965 Gallagher 15/99 9 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure PATENTEDAPR18 I972 mug INVENTOR. BERNARD J. RILEY JR. *4

CLEANING APPARATUS This invention relates to cleaning systems and moreparticularly to apparatus for removing contaminants from a surface.

Recently, new systems were disclosed for forming black and white or fullcolor images through the use of photoelectrophoresis. The inventions aredescribed in US. Pat. Nos. 3,384,565; 3,384,566 and 3,383,993 which showsystems where photoelectrophoretic particles migrate in imageconfiguration providing a visual image at one or both of two electrodesbetween which the particles are placed in suspension. The particles arephotosensitive and apparently undergo a net change in charge polarity ora polarity alteration by interaction with one of the electrodes uponexposure to activating electromagnetic radiation. The particles, underthe influence of an electric field and when struck with energy of awavelength within the spectral response of the colored particles willmigrate from one of the electrodes toward the other.

Apparatus has been invented to better utilize the above process. U.S.Pat. No. 3,427,242 describes a continuous apparatus embodiment of theabove process. The apparatus there shown as well as other apparatusoperates more effectively if the electrode surfaces used for supportingsuspension and transferable images are cleaned of residual pigmentmaterial after the imaging or transfer to a suitable support sheet.However, it has been found to be difficult to clean the electrodesurfaces used in the above described apparatus. Sufficient quantities ofpigment particles and all contaminants must be removed to preventinterference with later images being formed by the same electrodes.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to improve apparatus forthe cleaning surfaces. Another object of this invention is to improvethe removal of electrophoretic particles from surfaces.

A further object of this invention is to improve cleaning of members ofautomated imaging machines. Still another object of this invention is toimprove removal of contaminants automatically and continuously withoutthe need for manual interaction.

Another object is to prevent misting of cleaning fluids into theenvironment. Still another object is to reduce the size of cleaningunits. A further object is to improve the flow of cleaning fluidswithout increasing space requirements.

These and other objects are accomplished by providing a sponge-likecontacting member in moving contact with surface to be cleaned. Fluidsare added continuously internally through a perforated core to themoving sponge-like member for loosening the contaminants on the surfaceto be cleaned. The contaminated fluid packed member moves past and issqueezed by a hard roller at a position where fluids are trapped frommoving around the perforated core to remove the fluids and contaminantsfrom the sponge-like material. The surface cleaned is contacted by awiper blade to dry and further clean it.

The invention herein is described and illustrated in a specificembodiment having specific components listed for carrying out thefunctions of the apparatus. Nevertheless, the invention need not bethought of as being confined to such a specific showing and should beconstrued broadly within the scope of the claims. Any and all equivalentstructures known to those skilled in the art can be substituted forspecific apparatus disclosed as long as the substituted apparatusachieves a similar function. It may be that other processes or apparatuswill be invented having similar needs to those fulfilled by theinvention described and claimed herein and it is the intention herein todescribe an invention for use in apparatus other than the embodimentshown.

The above objects and advantages will become apparent to those skilledin the art after reading the following description taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawing of a schematic side section illustrationof an embodiment of the invention in a continuous processing apparatusenvironment for forming photoelectrophoretic images.

The FIGURE shows a rotary transparent electrode 1 in the form of acylinder which is made up of a layer of optically transparent glass 2carrying on its outer surface an optically transparent, electricallyconductive layer 3. The electrode can be formed of any electricallyconductive, transparent material such as NESA glass which is the tradename of a commercially available tin oxide coated glass. The rotaryelectrode is referred to as the injecting electrode.

The injecting electrode is so named because it is thought to injectelectrical charges into activated photosensitive particles duringimaging. The term photosensitive" for the purposes of this descriptionrefers to the property of a particle, which once attracted to theinjecting electrode, will alter its polarity and migrate away from theelectrode under the influence of an applied electric field when epxosedto activating electromagnetic radiation. The term suspension may bedefined as a system having solid particles dispersed in a solid, liquidor gas. Nevertheless, the suspension used in the embodiment of thisinvention described herein is of the general type having a solidsuspended in a liquid carrier. The term imaging electrode usedhereinafter describes that electrode which contacts the injectingelectrode through the imaging suspension and which when contacted byactivated photosensitive particles will not inject sufficient chargeinto them to cause them to migrate from the imaging electrode.

In close proximity to the injecting electrode 1 and mounted on an axisparallel to the axis of that electrode is a rotary imaging electroderoller 10. It has a central core 11 which is preferably of fairly highelectrical conductivity and a layer of blocking electrode material 12which may be, for example, Tedlar or baryta paper, covering the core toprevent electrical charge injection from the imaging electrode to theparticles contacting it.

During the imaging process, a thin suspension layer 14 of finely dividedphotosensitive particles dispersed in an insulating liquid carrier issupplied from a reservoir 15 to the surface of the imaging electrode 10.Within the rotary injecting electrode l is a stationary mirror 20 whichreceives light rays projected from a transparent object 25 to be copied.It reflects image rays through an exposure slit 22 and onto the surfaceof the suspension at the imaging zone 21 where the injecting electrode 1interfaces with the imaging electrode 10. The transparency 25 that is tobe imaged passes under a light source 26. The image is projected insychronized flowing movement by a lens 27 onto the surface of thesuspension at the imaging zone 21.

The injecting electrode 1 is grounded by a connection 30 and the imagingelectrode is connected with a potential source 31 which is in turnconnected to ground. The polarity of the charge on the imaging electrode10 is opposite to that of the polarity that is carried on the surface ofthe injecting electrode 1. During imaging, drive means M-l rotate theinjecting electrode 1 in rolling interface with the imaging electrode 10thereby carrying the imaging suspension containing the photosensitiveparticles into contact with the surface of the injecting electrode 1 atthe site of projection of the image from the transparency 25. Theexposure under the electrical field conditions causes selectiveparticles to migrate through the liquid carrier and adhere to thesurface of the rotating imaging electrode 10 leaving a positive particleimage on the surface of the injecting electrode 1.

The image 40 on the surface of the injecting electrode 1 downstream fromthe imaging zone 21 is carried to contact an adhesive copy web 41 whichis pressed up against the drum surface by transfer roller 42. The web 41moves at the same velocity as the periphery of the injectingelectrode 1. The transfer roller 42 is positioned behind the web 41 andaids in the transfer of the image from the electrode 1. Thus, the imageis adhesively transferred from the surface of the injecting electrodeonto the surface of the copy web. The image on the copy web may bepermanently afiixed thereto in a fixing unit 44. Transfer may also occurthrough other known techniques without departing from the scope of theinvention.

Since the transfer does not remove all of the particles from theinjecting electrode 1 and since it is necessary in this process tomaintain particles on the imaging electrode 10, his also necessary toclean the surfaces of the electrodes. For this purpose a cleaningmechanism 50 is shown embodying this invention to clean the surfaces ofthe imaging and injecting electrodes respectively.

The cleaning mechanism 50 is used to remove residual materials(generally pigment particles in the illustrative environment) from theinjecting electrode surface. The cleaning roll 52 is a sponge-likemember, made, for example, of polyurethane foam or any other suitablesponge-like materials that are unaffected by the cleaning fluids. It ismounted on a tubular perforated inner core 53 which is rotated by amotor M-2 to move in the opposite direction from the surface of theinjecting electrode. A wiper blade 65 of rubber, polyurethane or anyother suitable resilient material which is resistant to the fluids andchemicals used contacts the surface of the injecting electrode along itspath downstream from the contact position with the cleaning roll 52.This wiper blade 65 dries the surface of the injecting electrode byremoving the liquids remaining thereon after contact by the cleaningmember 52. The wiper blade 65 is mounted in a bracket 66 held within thehousing 67 containing the cleaning unit 50.

A drain 68 in the housing 67 provides a run-off for the contaminatedliquid pinched out of the cleaning roll 52. This liquid is pumped to afilter 70 by a pump 71 where the particles are removed and the liquid isreturned to the sprayer 102 for reuse within the system.

A pinch roll 90 is a small diameter solid rod joumaled for rotationwithin the housing 67. The small rod 90 is driven because of itsinterference contact with the cleaning roller 52. All or most of theliquid and particles within the sponge-like roller are removed when thepinch roll 90 compresses the material virtually squeezing the pores downto a solid, nonporous condition.

The roll 90 is formed of a hard material such as steel or aluminum andis generally only one-half inch in diameter or thereabouts. For bestresults the roller should be contacting the sponge-like cleaning roller52 below the horizontal center line of the roller so that liquids forcedout of the sponge-like material are not likely to fall back onto thecleaning roller 52 because of gravity. To aid in removing the liquid 91from the pinch roll 90 before it travels around the periphery thereof, awiper blade 94 housed in a bracket 95 contacts the surface of the pinchroll 90 in order to prevent liquids from traveling 360 around the pinchroll 90. The blade can be rubber, polyurethane or any other suitableresilient material which is resistant to the fluids and chemicals usedin the process or the cleaning. Any other squeezing mechanism that isappropriate to function in the place of the rod 90 may be substitutedtherefore.

The sponge-like roll 52 is mounted in an interference fit on perforatedcore 53 which is fastened by end caps (not shown) to a drive motor M-2operating through the end cap or via a torque tube to give more evendriving capabilities. The core 53 should be substantially perforatedhaving as much as 50 percent or more of its area open.

Internal to the perforated core and sponge-like member is a header 102with one or more nozzles 103 and 104 thereon. Each of the nozzlesproduce a uniform spray across the usable length of the sponge-likecleaning roller 52. The spray penetrates through the perforations of thecore 53 and forces whatever particles are picked up from the workstation (in this case, the surface 3) toward the outer surface of thespongelike cleaning member 52 where they are squeezed by the solid pinchroller 90. Directly opposite the pinch roller but on the inside of thecleaning member is a seal baffle 105 which prevents materials squeezedto the inner surface of the cleaning roller by the pinch roll fromtraveling around the inner surface toward the work station. Since thepinch roll squeezes the foam material of the roller to a nearly solid,non-porous mass, there is a seal between the baffle blade and the pinchroll.

Therefore, the liquids squeezed out of the sponge-like material cannotpass the imaginary line formed through the pinch roll, the squeezedsponge-like material and the bafile blade. The materials are trappedunless they accumulate enough to pass through the sponge-like memberupstream from the pinch roll to fall harmlessly to the bottom of thehousing. The header 102 remains fixed while the sponge-like roller 52and core 53 rotate around it. Suitable bearings between the header shaftand end caps enable this desirable movement.

This embodiment has several advantages over the external spray systems.Some of the more important benefits include the elimination of mistingof the liquids sprayed to and struck against the sponge-like roller.There is less splattering and fine mist developed within the environmentfrom the internal sprayer system. The flow direction of cleaning liquidsis from the inside outward tending to prevent deep impregnation ofcontaminants in the sponge-like material. In fact, this direction ofspraying tends to push contaminants out of the sponge-like roller formore easy removal by the pinch roller.

The entire system benefits from the more compact design possible by theinternal sprayer system. Further, several sprays can be developed from asingle header saving both cost and space.

An example of a mechanism that works well to achieve the desiredcleaning results at the work station is one in which a polyurethane foamhaving to open ppi and being approximately three-eighths of an inchthick passes the work station with a A inch interference. The insidediameter of the foam roller or the outside diameter of the sleeve onwhich the polyurethane foam is wrapped is 2% inches. The solid pinchroll is a one-half or inch diameter rod having an interference with thepolyurethane foam of between five-sixteenths and eleven thirty-secondsof an inch. The wiper blades are solid polyurethane materialone-sixteenth inch thick and approximately 80 durometers. The rotationof the sponge-like roller is in a direction opposite to the movingsurface at the work station but at the same speed. The pinch roll isdriven by the cleaning roller thus preventing undue wear and frictionagainst the polyurethane foam. The material sprayed against the cleaningroller can be any solvent or suitable carrier for the contaminatingmaterials to be removed from the work station. In this example mineraloil is used to clean an injecting electrode at the work station and itis forced through the system by a pressure of 20 psi. The sprayers arean internal spray system and present a more or less uniform, continuous,spray on to the polyurethane foam. This gives even saturation to thefoam and prevents buildup of particles in any particular areas.

The above is cited by way of example only and should not be construed aslimiting the scope of the invention claimed hereinafter. It should beapparent to those skilled in the art that other embodiments within thescope of the invention can be made from the disclosure herein.

While this invention has been described with reference to the structuresdisclosed herein and while certain theories have been expressed toexplain the experimentally obtainable results obtained, it is notconfined to the details set forth; and this application is intended tocover such modifications or changes as may come within the purposes ofthe improvements or the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for cleaning a surface including a perforated hollow coremeans mounted for rotation;

a porous, sponge-like member for interfacing with the surface to becleaned at a first position, said sponge-like member being mountedexternally on said perforated core means;

means internal to said core means for applying liquid therethrough tosaid sponge-like member;

a pinch member for squeezing the sponge-like member against theperforated core means at a second position along its surface removedfrom the first position.

2. Apparatus for cleaning a surface including a perforated hollow coremeans mounted for rotation;

plurality of nozzles.

4. Apparatus for cleaning a surface including a perforated hollow coremeans mounted for rotation;

a sponge-like member for interfacing with the surface to be cleaned at afirst position, said sponge-like member for interfacing with the surfaceto be cleaned at a first position, said sponge-like member being mountedexternally on said perforated core means;

means internal to said core means for applying liquids therethrough tosaid sponge-like member wherein said means for applying liquid remainsstationary during the movement of the sponge-like member;

a pinch member for squeezing the sponge-like member against theperforated core means at a second position along its surface removedfrom the first position.

5. Apparatus for cleaning a surface including a perforated hollow coremeans mounted for rotation;

a sponge-like member for interfacing with the surface to be cleaned at afirst position, said sponge-like member being externally on saidperforated core means;

means internal to said core means for applying liquids therethrough tosaid sponge-like member;

a pinch member for squeezing the sponge-like member against theperforated core means at a second position along its surface removedfrom its first position;

means for sealing the perforated core means being positioned in linewith the second position.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said means for sealing includes abafile fixed against rotation internal to said core means.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said means for sealing rides alongthe inner surface of the core means as the core means moves.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said perforated core means includesapertures over at least 50 percent of its area, said aperture passingcompletely through said core means.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sponge-like member is mounted ininterference fit on said core means.

1. Apparatus for cleaning a surface including a perforated hollow coremeans mounted for rotation; a porous, sponge-like member for interfacingwith the surface to be cleaned at a first position, said sponge-likemember being mounted externally on said perforated core means; meansinternal to said core means for applying liquid therethrough to saidsponge-like member; a pinch member for squeezing the sponge-like memberagainst the perforated core means at a second position along its surfaceremoved from the first position.
 2. Apparatus for cleaning a surfaceincluding a perforated hollow core means mounted for rotation; asponge-like member for interfacing with the surface to be cleaned at afirst position, said sponge-like member being mounted externally on saidperforated core means; means internal to said core means for applyingliquids therethrough to said sponge-like member including spray headersand directing nozzles; a pinch member for squeezing the sponge-likemember against the perforated core means at a second position along itssurface removed from the first position.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2wherein said header includes a plurality of nozzles.
 4. Apparatus forcleaning a surface including a perforated hollow core means mounted forrotation; a sponge-like member for interfacing with the surface to becleaned at a first position, said sponge-like member for interfacingwith the surface to be cleaned at a first position, said sponge-likemember being mounted externally on said perforated core means; meansinternal to said core means for applying liquids therethrough to saidsponge-like member wherein said means for applying liquid remainsstationary during the movement of the sponge-like member; a pinch memberfor squeezing the sponge-like member against the perforated core meansat a second position along its surface removed from the first position.5. Apparatus for cleaning a surface including a perforated hollow coremeans mounted for rotation; a sponge-like member for interfacing withthe surface to be cleaned at a first position, said sponge-like memberbeing externally on said perforated core means; means internal to saidcore means for applying liquids therethrough to said sponge-like member;a pinch member for squeezing the sponge-like member against theperforated core means at a second position along its surface removedfrom its first position; means for sealing The perforated core meansbeing positioned in line with the second position.
 6. The apparatus ofclaim 5 wherein said means for sealing includes a baffle fixed againstrotation internal to said core means.
 7. The apparatus of claim 5wherein said means for sealing rides along the inner surface of the coremeans as the core means moves.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein saidperforated core means includes apertures over at least 50 percent of itsarea, said aperture passing completely through said core means.
 9. Theapparatus of claim 1 wherein the sponge-like member is mounted ininterference fit on said core means.